`Vending-machine area

`Vending-machine area YOUNGSTOWN -- The Western Reserve Transit Authority Board of Trustees authorized its executive director, James Ferraro, to seek proposals from companies that could provide, clean and maintain a full-service food and beverage vending-machine area at WRTA's Federal Station. The machines, which would serve WRTA and Greyhound bus passengers, would be in a former restaurant area with seats and tables. The board also awarded a $10,000 contract Thursday to Aey Electric Co. of Youngstown for new exterior security lighting at its bus garage at 604 Mahoning Ave. FOP supports Popio YOUNGSTOWN -- The membership of the Mahoning County Sheriff's Department's Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 141 is endorsing Judge Loren A. Popio of Canfield in the Mahoning County Court judicial race. The judge is being challenged by Atty. Diane S. Vettori of Canfield and Michael Dockry, Austintown Township administrator, for the seat in the Nov. 5 general election. Deciding on firing WARREN -- An arbitrator will decide if a sheriff's recommendation to fire deputy Brian Kaintz will stand, Trumbull County Sheriff Thomas Altiere said Thursday. Kaintz is on paid administrative leave, but the sheriff said he will try to determine whether he can place Kaintz on unpaid leave pending a decision. Altiere recommended last week that Kaintz be fired after reviewing an internal investigation into Kaintz's actions during a June 26 chase in which he fired 16 shots. The sheriff said Kaintz violated department policy on use of deadly force. Ride operator arrested CANFIELD -- The 18-year-old operator of a dragon ride at the Canfield Fair was arrested Thursday night on a theft warrant from Holmes County. The Mahoning County Sheriff's Department received a tip that Timothy L. Osborne of Millersburg, who works for Bates Bros. Amusements, would be at the fair. Osborne was in the Mahoning County jail today pending transfer to Holmes County. Teens in trouble CANFIELD -- Fairgrounds police detained a car at Gate 13 on Leffingwell Road on Thursday evening after someone saw beer cans being tossed from it. The occupants were two boys and a girl, all 17, from Columbiana, whose parents were called to get them. The male driver had a marijuana pipe in his pocket, and his male passenger had suspected marijuana in his shoe, according to the Mahoning County Sheriff's Department. Nothing was found on the girl, records show. A cooler with beer was found in the trunk. Endorsed by group COLUMBUS -- The Ohio Manufacturers Association has endorsed Jim Calko and Randy Pope in their Ohio House races for the 65th and 61st districts, respectively. Calko, a Lordstown Republican, is running for an open seat against Democrat Sandra Stabile Harwood of Niles and the Rev. Werner Lange of Newton Falls, an independent. Pope, an Alliance Republican, is challenging state Rep. John Boccieri, a New Middletown Democrat. The association represents more than 2,200 manufacturing companies in Ohio. This is the first time it has endorsed political candidates. Child abduction attempt WARREN -- Township police are searching for two men who attempted to abduct a 10-year-old girl Thursday. Reports state the girl was walking home from school around 3 p.m. on Dover Street when two men in a white car told her to get in. The girl ran, and the men drove away, police said. Police will increase patrols in the area and are asking anyone with information to call the department at (330) 898-5588. Sobriety checkpoint BAZETTA -- The Trumbull County DUI Task Force and Bazetta Township Police Department will conduct a sobriety checkpoint Saturday. The exact location will be announced Saturday morning. Funding for the DUI Task Force is provided by a grant from the Ohio Department of Public Safety.